'Boondocks' Creator Inks Overall Deal With Adult Swim, Sets New Show

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Aaron McGruder will create a new live-action pilot, "Hooligan Squad," as his first project under the new pact.

Adult Swim is locking down Aaron McGruder.

The Boondocks and Black Jesus creator and Peabody Award winner has inked a first-look overall deal with the cabler, Adult Swim announced Tuesday.

Under the pact, McGruder — who also has Black Jesus at Adult Swim — is producing a new live-action adventure pilot called Hooligan Squad under the pact. The action-adventure entry centers on an American insurgency in Japanese-occupied San Francisco, set in the near future. McGruder will pen the pilot and exec produce alongside LEG's Norman Aladjem and R&G Productions' Steven Tzirlin.

"With The Boondocks and the upcoming Black Jesus series, we consider Aaron very instrumental in the success of Adult Swim, and this deal is the continuation of a great partnership," said Mike Lazzo, executive vp and creative director at Adult Swim.

Added McGruder: "It's a rare thing to have a network home. Even more rare is a home that wants to see you grow and expand as a creator. Adult Swim is headed to new horizons, and I'm happy to be along for the ride."

McGruder's upcoming live-action comedy Black Jesus will bow in August on Adult Swim. That series centers on Jesus living in present-day Compton, Calif., on a daily mission to spread love and kindness throughout the neighborhood with the help of his small but loyal group of downtrodden followers.

McGruder, who created the series, will executive produce via his 5 Mutts Productions along with Trailer Park Boys' writer-director Mike Clattenburg as well as Aladjem and John Bravakis.

Cult animated comedy The Boondocks ran for three seasons (45 episodes) on Adult Swim from 2005 to 2010. The series ended its four-season run in April. The show was based on a comic strip that originated at McGruder's alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park, and later appeared in The Source magazine.